Putin Ups Georgia Strike Warnings
Putin's warning is 'his strongest yet'

September 12, 2002

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United Nations that Russia will take necessary measures to defend itself if Georgia fails to deal with Chechen rebels on its territory.

In a letter to the Security Council, Mr Putin said Georgia had rejected numerous offers of Russian help to wipe out the rebels holed up in the Pankisi Gorge.

He said Georgia's own military operations had failed to achieve tangible results, and he has told his armed forces to draw up plans themselves.

The Georgian president, Eduard Shevardnadze, called Mr Putin's statement hasty and suggested talks with Moscow.

Mr Putin's warning appears to be the strongest sign so far that Russia is prepared to use force in Georgia, correspondents say.

President Shevardnadze criticised threats by the Russian president to launch attacks in the north of the country, saying the problems in the breakaway republic of Chechnya were of Russia's own making.

Moscow is seeking a quid pro quo from Washington - silence over US military action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in exchange for American acquiescence to Russian strikes in the Pankisi, Russian and Georgian observers said.

Terse letter

In the letter to world leaders, Mr Putin accused Georgia of violating UN anti-terrorism resolutions by allowing terrorists to operate freely on its territory.

He said the Georgian security sweep had not brought any concrete results because the militants knew about it in advance and relocated.

"If Georgia fails to take concrete steps to destroy the terrorists, and they continue to attack us from its territory, then Russia, in strict compliance with international law, will take adequate measures for averting the terrorist threat," the letter said.

Mr Putin's message coincides with US President George W Bush's key address to the United Nations outlining Washington's plans to unseat Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime.

Tension

Mr Putin's comments follow weeks of mounting tension between the two countries over the activities of pro-Chechen rebels along the Russian-Georgian border.

Russia has been fighting an intermittent war in the rebel republic since 1994.

Moscow has accused Georgia of allowing Chechen rebels to use the lawless gorge as a base for their fight against Russian armed forces.

Georgia says the situation in Pankisi is under control after its interior ministry sent over a thousand troops into the region to flush out the separatists.

It says Russia has already carried out raids on the area, killing one person and injuring several.

Moscow denies any involvement in the attacks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2253349.stm